Over the past twenty years, Emily has worked with children and families as a creative expression educator in both in high schools and elementary schools, and often as a visiting instructor. She has always been especially interested in how each person’s story informs how they express themselves through art and play.
Emily has her Masters in Science (MS) in Mental Health Counseling, and is a psychotherapist who specializes in working with children and adolescents around challenges with anxiety, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, and relational issues. Emily is an instructor of child and adolescent counseling at The University of Massachusetts Boston.
In her work with children, Emily specializes in using play and art therapy as a means of helping children express and process feelings using symbol and metaphor. Her work is eclectic in that it is grounded in psychodynamic theory, and she also judiciously incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy, expressive arts therapy, and mindfulness practices. She is trained in a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CF-CBT) approach using art, play, and storytelling to help children process grief and loss of all kinds. Emily also has a strong interest in working with adults around challenges with post-partum issues, parenting, anxiety, grief, and career changes. She welcomes using art therapy with adults as well.
Her Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree from Smith College means that she brings an understanding of children’s wide ranges of educational experiences. She values collaborating and working with the parents and guardians of her clients.
Emily has published two award winning educational creative expression and activity books, Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children’s Storytelling and Journal Sparks — both published by Storey Publishing.
In her spare time, Emily spends time in the studio making art. Through this process, she experiments with imperfection and freestyle self-expression. Small moments and unlikely treasures have always felt meaningful to her, and she finds that she documents them in her artwork. This kind of artistic expression is woven into her therapy practice in conjunction with mindfulness practice especially with teens and adults.